Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Page #7

long time, even after he died.

I suppose, in a way,

he's got Charlotte to thank for that.

If she hadn't deluded herself

into believing

it was dear old Papa

who killed John Mayhew,

she might never have stayed here

guarding that so-called secret.

She might have gone off

and spent the entire fortune.

- Are you sure it's all right?

- Sure what's all right?

Don't make fun of me!

Oh, you mean Velma.

Of course it's all right. Nobody's

ever gonna know it wasn't an accident.

Except me, of course.

Which rather tends to make me

a senior partner

in our little enterprise, doesn't it?

Charlotte's still asleep.

Do you want me to give her anything else?

No, no. She'll do quite nicely as she is.

I'd better put in an appearance in town.

Oh, come on, Miriam.

Don't start weakening now.

This may be our last chance

of acquiring the wealth

to which I'd like to become accustomed.

See you.

- It's all yours, Mr. Wills.

- Thank you, sir.

Hi. I'll bet this is the first time

you've seen the county coroner

operate out of a funeral parlour, eh?

Yes, it's a bit different

where I come from.

It's a bit different most places.

Still, for a town of this size,

it's kind of handy.

I've just heard the news about Velma

Cruther's death at the newspaper office.

It was Miss Cruther

he came to see, wasn't it?

Oh, yes, indeed, sir. She certainly

had a nasty accident, all right.

- Would you like to see the body?

- No, thank you.

Well, step inside anyway.

May I ask how it happened?

Well, it seems she fell off a ladder.

She must have been up there

fixing her roof.

The roof at her place

has always let in the rain.

And... well, it's done it for years.

You mean this happened

at Miss Cruther's home?

Well, I'd hardly call it a home, sir.

But she did fall in her own back yard.

I see.

- Who found her?

- I couldn't tell you that, sir.

But it was Dr. Bayliss

that brought her in.

Charlotte!

Charlotte!

Charlotte!

Charlotte!

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte

Charlotte, don't you cry

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte

I'll love you till I die

Oh, hold me, darling,

please hold me close

And brush the tears from your eye

You weep because

you had a dream last night

You dreamed that I said goodbye

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte

Charlotte, don't you cry

Charlotte!

John?

John, wait. Don't go!

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte

Charlotte, don't you cry

John?

John?

John.

Don't go away.

John.

Please don't go away.

Papa?

Charlotte?

John.

You idiot. You wretched idiot.

He's dead!

And you killed him.

Miriam! Miriam!

Don't call the sheriff!

People staring at me and hating me!

It would be just like the night

John was murdered.

But you killed Drew.

We can't pretend it never happened.

You don't know what it's like

when hate is everywhere.

Oh, Miriam, don't you hate me too.

Oh, please, Charlotte.

Please, please, don't.

I didn't mean to kill him.

The gun was just there in my hand.

And when I saw him,

he looked so horrible.

It was just like the night

when the mirrors all smashed.

And just like the night

when I saw that head.

Miriam, please, don't call the sheriff.

I couldn't stand it.

I just couldn't stand it!

Oh, Charlotte, don't.

We could get rid of the body.

We could hide it somewhere.

Then people'll think someone else

had done it. That's the only thing to do.

Miriam, I've got lots of money.

I'll give it to you, all of it.

We really could get rid of the body

if you'd help me.

We could get rid of it if you'd help me.

I wish to God I'd never come here.

I'll get the car.

You turn off the lights.

Well, go.

Get in there and stay quiet.

Get in there.

I hope you'll forgive me

for popping in at this time.

I was out driving with a friend

when I noticed the lights.

I've heard the news

about Velma Cruther's death.

What a terrible thing.

She was such a loyal person.

I'm sure Miss Hollis

must be terribly upset about it.

I wonder if there's anything I can do.

It's very kind of you,

but no, there isn't anything.

Charlotte was upset.

I've given her a sedative

and put her to bed.

It was a dreadful shock for her.

I'm terribly sorry.

Please give her my sympathy.

- I'm sorry I can't ask you in.

- It's quite all right.

I shouldn't have come. It's very late.

I just happened to be passing.

- You understand?

- Of course.

Thank you, Mr. Wills.

Good night.

By the way,

I understand you'll be leaving

this house in a matter of days now,

you and your cousin.

Of course,

our plans are indefinite now.

Naturally. They would be.

Mr. Wills, you'll have to excuse me.

I must look in on Charlotte.

Excuse me, please.

- Good night.

- Good night.

I don't think I can help you.

You can't help me?

I'm the one that's helping you.

You want me to call the sheriff?

Ls that what you want?

Well, all right, then.

Turn your lights on!

I must be the worst person in the world

to have killed Drew.

Will you please shut up?

Miriam, I can't touch him.

Don't make me do it, Miriam.

Get out.

Do what I say!

Well?

Will you stop that?

Miriam, they'll be finding him soon.

They'll be asking questions.

I don't think I could lie to 'em.

You'll have to tell them

I'm not able to answer questions.

They'll find out, if you don't.

They'll find out.

Damn you.

Now will you shut your mouth?

You do as I tell you,

and if I tell you to lie,

you'll do that too.

I'm never going to suffer for you again.

Not ever.

Do you understand?

Get out.

Get out and go up to your room.

Go ahead!

I'll clean out the back

and I'll be out in a minute.

Well, go on.

Go up to your room.

Well, go on.

Go on.

Go on.

Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

- To your very good health.

- You look absolutely ravishing.

Thank you, sir.

I bet Lazarus never felt

as good as I do.

- To Venice in the spring.

- Venice?

Well, as a matter of fact,

I'm not certain

that I shall want to live in Europe.

I don't see that what you want

has anything to do with where we go.

You forget that Velma's tragic departure

has allowed me to become

the senior partner

of our little enterprise.

Are you sure you have the brains

to be the senior partner?

I don't think I follow you.

Who do you suppose helped to set up

cousin Charlotte for this little comedy

by sending her all those charming notes?

- Naturally, Jewel Mayhew.

- Jewel?

Jewel Mayhew hasn't done

a thing in years and years

except keep me in comfort.

Until her money ran out.

- I sent Charlotte all those notes.

- You...

And Jewel Mayhew?

My notes to Jewel

had a more practical purpose.

The one good thing

that ever happened to me in this house

was seeing Jewel Mayhew

go out to the summer house that night.

She paid me handsomely

for that indiscretion.

She paid you?

Jewel murdered her husband,

and you could bring yourself

to make both her

and Charlotte suffer

for it all these years?

Yes, darling.

That's exactly what I did.

Do you still feel you have

the imagination

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